Thierry Henry is no cheat, says former Arsenal team-mate Tony Adams

Tony Adams has come to the defence of Thierry Henry in the wake of the French star’s public humiliation.

Henry’s handball led to the equalising goal that took France through in their World Cup qualifier against Ireland in Paris.

Adams was Henry’s captain at Arsenal for eight years and he insisted: “Thierry is no cheat. I can assure everyone of that.”

Henry has been vilified across the world for the blatant fashion in which he used his hand to set up the header for William Gallas that ensured France reached next summer’s finals.

But Adams is convinced that Henry did only what several other strikers would have done in the same position.

“What he did was instinctive – and I am certain there are many more other front men who would do the same thing.

“It is just not in his character to cheat. It is not him.

“I was with him basically every day for eight years and he is one of the most professional people I have come across in the game.

“I have played with him on many, many occasions and I have never known him to do anything even resembling that in any of the games I have been involved in.”

There were immediate comparisons made between Henry’s assist and the “Hand of God” goal from Diego Maradona that helped to eliminate England from the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. But for Adams there is no similarity.

“Totally different,” said Adams. “With Maradona, I believe he realised that he was never going to win that ball with a fair header and maybe he also saw Peter Shilton coming.

“Thierry’s was not the same at all. He just flashed out his hand and I know of so many strikers who would have done the same thing. And I have played with some of them.”

And Adams does not share the public perception that everyone involved in football will condemn Henry.

“I am coming from a different place and I am sure many other people in football are as well.

“It has been said that Thierry will now be labelled as a cheat for the rest of his career and that it is for that handball that he will be remembered. I can’t agree with that.

“Maybe it will be the case with Irish fans but that is certainly not my reaction. Thierry will always be, for me, a superb striker – a graceful mover with tremendous speed who stroked the ball into the net on so many occasions.

“This, don’t forget, is a guy who has won everything - World Cup, European Cup, Premier League titles, the lot. That is how his career will be viewed by me as well as many, many other people in football.

“As a defender, I was never in that situation that Thierry found himself – but if I did then I can’t honestly say what I would have done.”